Every of the islands within the Galapagos provides a singular expertise, particularly as so many are dwelling to species of animals discovered solely in that location.
With so many to select from, deciding which island to name dwelling and which others to go to in your Galapagos trip can really feel overwhelming.
This information will describe what you may anticipate from every Galapagos island together with info on the wildlife, seasonality, accessibility, value, and alternatives that every current.
We visited the Galapagos on a number of journeys in 2023 with the aim of exploring as many islands as we may. Having completed each excursions and self-guided journeys, we’ve got discovered quite a bit concerning the area which we share beneath that will help you plan the vacation of a lifetime!
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🐢 Overview: In regards to the Galapagos Islands
In keeping with UNESCO, there are formally 127 islands, islets and rocks inside the Galapagos archipelago.
Of those, 19 are thought of “massive” or “main” islands that may be visited, however solely 4 are inhabited and permit in a single day stays.
Of the 4 inhabited islands, solely Santa Cruz (GPS) and San Cristobal (SCY) have airports that you could fly into from the mainland.
In alphabetical order, the 19 main Galapagos islands are:
- Baltra (aka South Seymour) Island
- Bartolome Island
- Darwin Island
- Espanola Island
- Fernandina Island
- Floreana Island
- Genovesa Island
- Isabela Island
- Marchena Island
- North Seymour Island
- Pinta Island
- Pinzon Island
- Rabida Island
- San Cristobal Island
- Santa Cruz Island
- Santa Fe Island
- Santiago Island
- South Plaza Island
- Wolf Island
*daring signifies inhabited islands
Along with the 19 main islands, there are a group of minor islands and rocks that may be seen and/or visited on day excursions. The most effective of those shall be highlighted additional down.
Of the 4 inhabited islands, solely Santa Cruz and San Cristobal have airports that service mainland Ecuador.
Isabela and Floreana islands each provide vacationer lodging for in a single day stays, however can solely be reached on a cruise or ferry from Santa Cruz.
You’ll be taught extra about every island beneath together with all info related to planning a visit, causes to go to, and private suggestions.
🏠 Finest Islands within the Galapagos to Keep On
There are 4 inhabited islands within the Galapagos that you could select to remain on throughout your trip. So as of inhabitants and recognition, these are:
- Santa Cruz
- San Cristobal
- Isabela
- Floreana
Santa Cruz and San Cristobal are the most effective islands within the Galapagos to remain on as they’ve airports that service mainland Ecuador and the most effective infrastructure to help tourism.
Nonetheless, every island comes with some execs and cons which are subjective to the person traveler. Learn the descriptions on every beneath and resolve which sounds best for you!
1. Isla Santa Cruz
| Inhabitants | ~18000 |
| Important City | Puerto Ayora |
| Get There | Flights from mainland Ecuador, inter-island flights and ferry. |
| Finest For | Finest dwelling base for Galapagos holidays. Most eating places, vacationer companies, lodging, and english-speaking. |
| Highlights: | Charles Darwin Analysis Heart, El Chato Tortoise Ranch, Highlands, Gordon Rocks, Playa Tortuga Bay, Gus Angermeyer Pier |
Santa Cruz is the most effective island within the Galapagos to remain on for the overwhelming majority of vacationers. It gives the widest vary of eating places, lodging, and vacationer companies, and finest accommodates non-Spanish talking guests.
At over 18,000, Santa Cruz has greater than double the inhabitants of all the opposite islands mixed.
San Cristobal and Santa Cruz are the one two islands with airport service from mainland Ecuador, although technically the Galápagos Ecologic Airport (GPS) that companies Santa Cruz is definitely positioned on the adjoining island of Baltra.
The highly-touristic really feel and prolonged journey from the airport on Baltra to the one main city of Puerto Ayora are the primary the reason why some folks choose reserving their keep on San Cristobal over Santa Cruz.
Of word, there’s an inter-island ferry connecting these two islands so you may simply fly into one and out from the opposite.
Most of the most well-known websites and day excursions shall be discovered on Santa Cruz.
2. Isla San Cristobal
| Inhabitants | ~6000 |
| Important City | Puerto Baquerizo Moreno |
| Get There | Flights from mainland Ecuador, inter-island flights and ferry. |
| Finest For | Galapagos holidays, sea lion encounters, mixture of native tradition & tourism companies. |
| Highlights | Kicker Rock, 360º Tour, Playa Mann, El Junco Lagoon |
San Cristobal is the second-most fashionable island within the Galapagos to remain on, however is your best option for a lot of. Personally, it was our favourite island to remain on.
As a result of the San Cristobal airport (SCY) is positioned so near the city heart at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, it’s the best Galapagos island to fly out and in of.
San Cristobal provides a wide-range of lodging choices, starting from backpacker finances of $15/ evening in “hostals” (household rooms) to 4 and 5 star accommodations. There are additionally quite a lot of eating places for all budgets and preferences, however they’re way more restricted than on Santa Cruz.
What makes San Cristobal actually exceptional is that the native Ecuadorian tradition stays intact. In truth, English is extra not often spoken than you may think!
San Cristobal can be the most effective island to have interaction with sea lions, generally known as the “canine of the ocean”. These playful pups are completely in every single place and can reliably be seen darting across the waters taking part in their very own sea lion video games with the vacationers.
3. Isla Isabela
| Inhabitants | ~2000 |
| Important City | Puerto Villamil |
| Get There | Inter-island flights and ferry. |
| Finest For | Accessible and expansive seaside, quiet main island with ample vacationer companies. |
| Highlights | Playa Isabela, Concha de Perla, Las Tintoreras, Volcan Sierra Negra |
Isabela island is the most effective island within the Galapagos for plentiful seaside entry. The key seaside, generally known as Playa Isabela or Puerto Villamil Seaside, extends 2.5-miles (4 kms).
Many accommodations, bars, and resorts are positioned instantly on the seaside, with some actually constructed on the sand. If a seaside vacation is a major merchandise in your Galapagos itinerary, Isabela shall be your favourite.
There are some main drawbacks to picking to remain on Isabela over Santa Cruz or San Cristobal. For one, there isn’t any main airport to service mainland Ecuador on Isabela, that means you’ll have to fly into one of many different two aforementioned islands and take the inter-island ferry or flight to Isabela.
Past that, issues are a bit extra primary and marginally costlier on Isabela. These searching for one thing quiet and native might rejoice at this, whereas those that choose consolation to journey might battle right here.
4. Isla Floreana
| Inhabitants | ~100 |
| Important City | Puerto Velazco Ibarra |
| Get There | Day tour from Santa Cruz or cruise solely. |
| Finest For | Skilled vacationers escaping the trendy world. |
| Highlights | Important Pier, Submit Workplace Barrel, Playa Negra |
Although you may completely keep in a single day on Floreana island, it’s by far the worst-option for an prolonged keep for 99% of holiday makers.
There’s a lot to know if you’re even contemplating staying in a single day on Floreana and guests should plan nicely prematurely.
For starters, it’s the solely inhabited island with no cellular phone protection and WiFi is extraordinarily restricted. Cell protection was made accessible, however the 100 or so residents feared it might improve the tempo of life on this quiet, distant island.
There are additionally no bars, 2 lodges, and solely 4 eating places on Floreana. Reservations are required for the whole lot.
Attending to and from Floreana for in a single day stays can solely be achieved by reserving the day tour from Santa Cruz and arranging pick-up on a future day tour.
Warnings apart, there are many compelling causes to go to and even keep on Floreana Island. Its wealthy historical past and reclusion have preserved this particular place in a method that’s practically not possible to search out within the twenty first century.
⛵️ Finest Islands within the Galapagos for Day Journeys
The islands is that this part are uninhabited and may due to this fact solely be visited through day excursions or as a part of a Galapagos island hopping cruise.
Every island has one thing distinctive to supply, usually within the aviary and underwater wildlife, in addition to a singular pure historical past cast by volcanoes.
If you wish to do some island hopping throughout your go to to the Galapagos, take a look at the images and listing beneath to assist resolve which of them to prioritize in your private itinerary.
5. Baltra Island
- Accessible By: Flights, ferries; dwelling to the main Galapagos airport (GPS).
- Motive(s) to Go to: Flying out and in of Galapagos.
Beforehand generally known as South Seymour Island, Baltra is a small island north of Santa Cruz. It’s dwelling to the Seymour Airport, also called Galápagos Ecological Airport (GPS), which companies Quito and Guayaquil on mainland Ecuador.
Baltra just isn’t actually a vacation spot. There’s not a lot to see there except for a thriving inhabitants of land iguanas and a decommissioned navy base.
It is rather possible you’ll fly in and/or out of Baltra in your approach to and from Santa Cruz, however there isn’t any want to incorporate any extra time in your Galapagos itinerary for this island.
Nonetheless, maintain a watch out for land iguanas in your journey to and round airport. We noticed a number of right here!
6. Bartolome Island
- Accessible By: Day Tour from Santa Cruz.
- Motive(s) to Go to: Most lovely, photogenic island in Galapagos and residential to penguins.
Isla Bartolome is probably the most lovely, picturesque island within the Galapagos archipelago. The principle viewpoint provides a panoramic vista of two tranquil coves with golden sand and turquoise water guarded by rolling hills.
The photograph alternative from Bartolome Viewpoint is the main cause guests take the two.5 hour boat experience from Santa Cruz to go to.
Nonetheless, a wholesome Galapagos penguin colony gives one other lovely cause to go to the island.
🐧 READ THE COMPLETE GUIDE:
BARTOLOME ISLAND ULTIMATE GUIDE
7. Santiago Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz to Bartolome.
- Motive to Go to: Attention-grabbing volcanic formations and wildlife.
There are a selection of customer websites on Santiago Island. Nonetheless, the most typical to go to is Sullivan Bay which is usually mixed with a day tour to Bartolome Island (talked about above).
Sullivan Bay is dwelling to fascinating volcanic landscapes with black lava flows that distinction in opposition to white coral seashores.
For these visiting Santiago Island through cruise, it’s attainable to entry completely different customer websites reminiscent of Espumilla Seaside, which is a nesting web site of inexperienced sea turtles, in addition to Puerto Egas, dwelling to fur seals.
There are additionally quite a few marine customer websites the place it’s attainable to identify penguins in addition to sea lions, fur seals, sea turtles, rays, sharks, many fish, and a few spectacular underwater geologic formations.
8. Española Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from San Cristobal.
- Motive to Go to: The one island to see endemic waved albatross.
Española Island is the southernmost of the Galapagos islands and, at about 4 million years previous, is without doubt one of the oldest as nicely.
From April to December, a inhabitants of round 25,000-35,000 waved albatross nest on Española island. It’s the solely island within the Galapagos the place you may see these lovely endemic birds.
Should you’re fortunate, you might get to witness their fascinating courtship rituals, which embrace stumbling, honking, and beak-fencing!
Exterior of the albatross nesting season, this unimaginable Galapagos island continues to be nicely price visiting. It’s dwelling to one of many finest seashores within the Galapagos, the pristine white sand Gardner Bay. Right here you may anticipate to see loads of sea lions dotting the shoreline.
9. Pinzon Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz.
- Motive to Go to: Unbelievable snorkeling spot teeming with Galapagos Sharks.
Isla Pinzon is famend for its crystal-clear water and thriving shark inhabitants. It is without doubt one of the hottest day excursions to take from Santa Cruz.
For the squeamish readers amongst you, perceive that the sharks you will note off of Pinzon and anyplace else within the Galapagos islands should not harmful. In truth, there are not any predatory animals of any variety people want worry inside the archipelago.
It’s price noting that you simply will be unable to really step foot onto the island of Pinzon. It is because the island has a tall shoreline with no seashores or flat touchdown factors for passengers to soundly enter from.
In different phrases, visiting Pinzon Island is a good day tour for snorkeling, however just isn’t in any other case really helpful for sightseeing.
10. North Seymour Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz.
- Motive to Go to: Nice and Magnificent Frigate Birds with their vibrant crimson throat pouches.
North Seymour is the most effective island within the Galapagos for seeing the enduring frigate birds attempting to draw a mate with their crimson, inflated throat pouches.
There are two species within the Galapagos, magnificent and nice frigate birds, and each nest on North Seymour Island.
It’s the solely island the place these spectacular birds mate year-round, so that you’re virtually assured to witness this exceptional courting ritual on a go to any time of yr.
Along with frigate birds, North Seymour is dwelling to quite a few different endemic birds reminiscent of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, lava herons, short-eared owls, and extra, making it a real haven for birdwatchers.
Though not endemic to the island, you might also spot land iguanas right here. Within the Thirties, 70 land iguanas have been launched from Baltra island. Immediately, it’s estimated that there are over 2500 land iguanas dwelling on North Seymour.
11. Santa Fe Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz.
- Motive to Go to: Largest number of endemic wildlife species of any Galapagos island & crystal clear waters.
Santa Fe is without doubt one of the closest islands to Santa Cruz, making it preferrred for a day journey. Whereas snorkeling right here you may spot sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, and reef sharks, in addition to a plethora of vibrant fish.
As with many Galapagos islands, the most important draw to go to Santa Fe is its wonderful snorkeling. Nonetheless, what makes Santa Fe distinctive is its number of endemic species.
Notably, the island is thought for the Santa Fe land iguana and Santa Fe rice rat, each of that are solely discovered right here.
Whilst you’d need to be extraordinarily lucky to identify one of many endemic rats, it’s pretty widespread to see land iguanas.
12. South Plaza Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz.
- Motive to Go to: Distinctive, colourful vegetation and a hybrid iguana inhabitants.
Much like most of the Galapagos islands, the snorkeling at South Plaza is superb. Nonetheless, what’s particular about this island is its vibrant vegetation and hybrid land / marine iguana colony.
The small island’s terrain is made up of dramatic wind-swept cliffs, opuntia cacti dotting the landscapes, and vegetation that adjustments shade relying on the season.
The Sesuvium succulents that carpet the island range from verdant inexperienced within the wet season to vibrant orange, crimson, and purple, making for a really fascinating scene.
South Plaza Island can be the one island the place land iguana and marine iguana territories overlap. This has resulted in a 3rd, hybrid species of iguana.
🚢 Finest Islands within the Galapagos for Cruises
The remaining main Galapagos islands that you could go to are solely accessible as a part of a cruise bundle that features them on their itinerary.
These islands are all vital distances from the inhabited islands, thus the shortage of day excursions accessible. Nonetheless, a few of them are unbelievable and should inspire you to journey to the Galapagos through cruise in an effort to expertise them.
13. Rabida Island
- Accessible By: Cruise solely.
- Motive to Go to: Galapagos’ solely crimson sand seaside.
There are few locations on the earth the place you may step foot onto crimson sand, and a type of is on Rabida Island in Galapagos.
The spectacular landscapes right here make it among the finest locations to {photograph} within the Galapagos archipelago!
Whereas the first draw for visiting this Galapagos island is its famed crimson sand seaside and cliffs, it’s also dwelling to flamingos that may be noticed feeding within the lagoon adjoining to the seaside.
The snorkeling right here can be wonderful with highlights together with inexperienced sea turtles, eagle rays, sand eels, reef sharks, and infrequently Galapagos penguins.
14. Genovesa Island
- Accessible By: Cruise solely.
- Motive to Go to: Glorious birdwatching.
Sometimes called “hen island”, Genovesa Island is without doubt one of the finest islands within the Galapagos for birdwatching.
It’s dwelling to the world’s largest inhabitants of red-footed boobies, with a colony of over 140,000 breeding pairs. Moreover, you will discover a myriad of different hen species together with frigate birds, lava herons, lava gulls, swallow-tailed gulls, and short-eared owls.
Not solely is the variety of avian life right here distinctive, however the sheer amount of birds is like one thing from a fairy story.
Genovesa additionally provides a few of the finest snorkeling within the Galapagos at Darwin Bay. In case you are fortunate, you may spot hammerhead sharks right here, in addition to manta rays, sea lions, turtles, sharks, and colleges of vibrant fish,
15. Fernandina Island
- Accessible By: Cruise solely.
- Motive to Go to: Volcanic landscapes and unimaginable wildlife.
Whereas the explanations to go to would possibly sound like they might describe any of the Galapagos islands, the volcanic landscapes and wildlife are significantly particular right here!
Fernandina is the youngest, westernmost, and third-largest island within the Galapagos. Because the youngest island, it’s the most volcanically lively, and proof of its volcanic nature might be seen in its barren panorama and black lava flows in every single place you look.
In terms of wildlife, Fernandina provides a lot. It’s dwelling to the biggest and darkest-colored marine iguanas, which might be present in massive numbers right here. Fur seals are additionally a standard sight on Fernandina.
Moreover, the chilly waters surrounding Fernandina are the richest within the archipelago, making it one of many few locations you may spot flightless cormorants and penguins.
16. Wolf Island
- Accessible By: Scuba diving liveaboard solely.
- Motive to Go to: Diving with sharks and different marine life at a number of world-class dive websites.
Wolf Island is a small island within the far north of the archipelago. The island is barely visited by divers on diving cruises generally known as liveaboards.
The waters round Wolf Island have a few of the finest dive websites on the earth, significantly El Derrumbe (The Landslide) dive web site.
Each Wolf Island and close by Darwin Island are famend for having the biggest world shark biomass. This abundance of sharks is usually comprised of scalloped hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, and blacktip reef sharks.
It’s also among the finest locations within the Galapagos for recognizing whale sharks.
17. Darwin Island
- Accessible By: Scuba diving liveaboard solely.
- Motive to Go to: Diving with sharks and different marine life at a number of world-class dive websites.
Darwin is the northernmost island within the Galapagos, positioned adjoining to aforementioned Wolf Island.
As with Wolf Island, the island can be solely visited by dive boats and has no terrestrial customer websites (in different phrases, no landings are permitted).
One of many primary sights of this small island was Darwin’s Arch, a formidable stone arch formation. Nonetheless, the arch collapsed in Might 2021 on account of pure erosion, leaving two pillars as a substitute that proceed to be dwelling to nesting sea birds.
Darwin’s Arch stays among the finest dive websites within the space, with an enormous quantity of sharks, rays, and colourful reef fish.
18. Marchena Island
- Accessible By: Cruise solely.
- Motive to Go to: One of many prime locations to swim with hammerhead sharks.
Marchena is without doubt one of the least visited Galapagos islands on account of its distant northern location and having solely not too long ago been opened as a customer web site.
There are not any terrestrial customer websites, however the coastal waters surrounding Marchena Island are dwelling to a few of the finest snorkeling and diving spots within the Galapagos.
Particularly, it is a superb place for recognizing sharks, with hammerhead and Galapagos sharks each ample right here. Galapagos dolphins are additionally widespread, in addition to sea lions and fur seals.
19. Pinta Island
- Accessible By: Cruise solely.
- Motive to Go to: Abundance of fish at Punta Neros marine web site.
Pinta Island is most generally known as being the unique dwelling of Lonesome George, the final of the Pinta tortoises and probably the most well-known non-fictional tortoise on the earth.
Nonetheless, the island is included on only a few cruise itineraries because it has no on-land customer websites and just one marine customer web site.
People who do handle to get to go to this distant island could also be lucky sufficient to identify red-lipped batfish, in addition to sea lions, sea turtles, and moray eels.
Finest Minor Islands within the Galapagos to Go to
These closing rocks and “minor islands” are additionally fashionable day journey locations, usually for snorkeling, with a few of the finest marine wildlife viewing you will discover on this planet.
Take into account a go to to those particular places as nicely.
Kicker Rock
Kicker Rock is without doubt one of the Galapagos’ finest diving websites. It’s the finest web site that may be accessed through day journey for swimming with Galapagos hammerhead sharks.
Snorkeling can be unbelievable right here with a excessive chance of swimming with the hammerheads in addition to turtles, sea lions, and tropical fish.
Gordon Rocks
Positioned northeast of Santa Cruz, Gordon Rocks is without doubt one of the finest dive websites in Galapagos that you could attain by day journey.
Right here you may get the possibility to dive with colleges of hammerhead sharks, black and white tip reef sharks, inexperienced sea turtles, barracuda, noticed eagle rays, mobula rays, and extra.
Isla Lobos
Whereas sea lions might be seen on just about each Galapagos island, you will discover these playful creatures in massive numbers having fun with the pure white sand seashores of Isla Lobos.
Lobos Island is without doubt one of the hottest day journeys accessible from San Cristobal for snorkeling.
🙋♀️ FAQs In regards to the Finest Islands within the Galapagos
Under are solutions to probably the most steadily requested questions relating to the most effective islands within the Galapagos. Merely click on the drop down arrows to disclose solutions!
Which island is the most effective to go to in Galapagos?
Santa Cruz and San Cristobal are the most effective islands to remain on in Galapagos, however Kicker Rock, Bartolome, Isabela, and North Seymour are all unimaginable islands to go to as nicely.
Which Galapagos island has the most effective seashores?
Isabella island has the most effective seaside of the main Galapagos islands. Playa Isabela spans 2.5 miles (4 km) of walkable shoreline with eating places and accommodations lining the shores.
What number of days is sufficient to see all the Galapagos islands?
As there are over 100 minor islands and 19 main islands within the Galapagos archipelago, it’s practically not possible for vacationers to see all of them. Nonetheless, 7-10 days is ample for seeing the three primary islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and Isabella.
Which islands within the Galapagos are finest for wildlife?
San Cristobal is the most effective island for vacationers who wish to interact with wildlife proper off the seaside, however every island within the Galapagos has one thing distinctive to supply in the best way of wildlife.
Which islands within the Galapagos are you able to not go to?
You may legally journey to any island within the Galapagos, however the one ones you may keep on and go to with out an official park information are Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabella, and Floreana.
The islands of Rabida, Santiago, Fernandina, Marchena, Pinta, Wolf, and Genovesa can solely be visiting by crusing or with a Galapagos Cruise. No day excursions can be found to those islands.
Which island within the Galapagos is finest for snorkeling?
San Cristobal is the most effective Galapagos island for seaside snorkeling, and can be dwelling to the most effective off-shore snorkeling vacation spot in Kicker Rock.
📚 Extra Galapagos Island Journey Guides
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💬 Closing Ideas on the Finest Galapagos Islands
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